TitleFight

As a long time Cubbies fan I couldn't be happier. Perhaps he has lost some of his stuff, but I'd still take him any day over Mitre or Cruz, just to name a few of our own possible 5ths. I think the cubbies now boast the best starting rotation in baseball, period. Plus it will be great to see him get his 300th in Wrigley, if it works out like that...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1737634



"Greg Maddux going back to his old stomping grounds, the Associated Press learned Tuesday night.

The four-time Cy Young winner agreed to a $24 million, three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, rejoining the team that gave him his start in the majors, a source close the negotiations said on condition of anonymity.

The deal is pending a physical, but the 37-year-old Maddux is expected to report Wednesday with the rest of the Cubs pitchers and catchers. Maddux, who spent the last 11 years with the Atlanta Braves, was the last major free agent to agree to a deal.

Chicago general manager Jim Hendry wasn't available for comment late Tuesday, but the addition of Maddux, who is just 11 wins shy of 300, gives the Cubs one of the strongest rotations in the game. He'll join Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano -- a foursome that took the Cubs within five outs of the World Series a year ago.

Maddux may not be the pitcher he was in his youth, but he is still one of the game's most effective ones. He went 16-11 with a 3.96 ERA last season -- his 16th straight year with at least 15 wins. He is second among active pitchers with 289 wins, 21 behind Roger Clemens.

He is 289-163 with a 2.89 ERA in his 18-year career.

Bringing Maddux back also goes along way toward soothing the angst of the Cubs faithful, who never forgave the team for letting him go in the first place. Maddux spent his first seven seasons in Chicago, going 95-75 and winning the first of his four straight Cy Young awards. But he left after the 1992 season in a money dispute and went to Atlanta, where he developed into one of the great pitchers of his era, a control freak who mixed speeds and locations.

He was 194-88 with a 2.63 ERA during his 11-year stint in Atlanta, setting an NL record for most consecutive innings without a walk and becoming the poster child for consistency with his streak of 15-win seasons.

He also helped make the Braves the dominant team in the NL. Atlanta won a division title every year he was there, as well as the 1995 World Series. The Cubs, meanwhile, wallowed in mediocrity -- or worse. They've had only five winning seasons since he left, and didn't make the playoffs again until 1998.

Going to a team that could win was believed to be high on Maddux's list of priorities, and he'll find the Cubs much different than what he's seen from afar these last few years. Dusty Baker brought a new attitude in his first season, and the Cubs responded with their first division title since 1989. They were on the verge of going to the World Series for the first time since 1945 until a meltdown against Florida in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. Florida rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the series.

The Cubs should be even better this year. Hendry upgraded the bullpen, adding LaTroy Hawkins and Kent Mercker. He also traded for Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee, and bolstered the bench with Todd Walker and Todd Hollandsworth."

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Hrothgar

One thing is certain the Braves won't win the NL East at least.

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BadForm

Good move for the Cubs. They have lots of guys with promise to take the 4th and 5th spots. Now just one of them needs to step up.

Maddux may no longer have his best stuff, but he can still completely shut down teams occassionally. He ended up with decent numbers last season, after getting just killed in a few early starts. I think he may be a bit better than his number last season indicated.

Halx

...and this dodger fan cries another tear

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JoeyB

This is a great move by the Cubs. They can't expect Wood and Prior to carry the load by themselves. (Please don't bring up Carlos Zambrano....)


They made strong moves this off-season and have to be one of the favorites in the National League.

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Averett

I'm a long time Braves fan and I wouldn't quite say that yet... But yeah.... For the first time in years they aren't a lock. Should be an interesting year. It's going to be strange seeing so many long time Braves in other uniforms.

Yup, great move for the Cubs. I'm sorry to see him leave the Braves, but it'll be cool seeing him back in the Cubs threads.

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Francis

maddux is a class act, my favorite player of all time. only wish i got the cubbies on cable.

Kurant

WHy not bring up Zambrano, did yuy even watch baseball last year?

He had a few rough outings in the postseason, but when his control is good, he's got stuff as nasty, if not even nastier then Wood and Prior.

Zambrano's control is a big issue, but he can clock the 98-99-100mph fastball, if ever learns control, this guy will be a stud.

As far as Maddux, goooooo Cubbies!

johnsmith

That rotation is just plain scary. I think they are the favorites this season for the whole league.

JoeyB

I was referring specifically to the upcoming season. Your argument of "if (he) ever learns control, this guy will be a stud" is exactly my point. He's still a few years away. He has yet to prove anything to me over the long haul of a season.

Wood and Prior are well beyond "IF". Zambrano isn't there yet.

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bond007

man, talk about a great pitching rotation!

Wood
Prior
Maddux
Zambrano
Clement

yeah, it's premature... but, how 'bout a Cubs-Yankees World Series?!?!

jasonresno

As a Yank fan, I wouldn't mind that at all...

smarm

The NL Central is going to be a long road, though. The Astros with Clemens and Petitte, the Cards are no slouch either. I think it will be a great year for the Cubbies, I just don't think they can be annointed right now.

Go Cubs!

jasonresno

If the Cardinals had an actual pitching staff than..yeah they could do alot better..

Kurant

He will be there, I can promise you.

With Dusty being the pitcher abuser he is, Zambrano's control will come around. Clement's control is even worse the Zambrano's. =/

JoeyB

Kurant, I agree with your assessment of Clement and that's a good example of potential not always translating into stardom.

Clement is a solid pitcher, but not the superstar many envisioned when he first broke into the majors. He still could be great, just like Zambrano, I just haven't seen the consistency to give me the same confidence that you have.

I admire your support---I'm still skeptical.


Give me a proven veteran for a playoff run. With rare exceptions like Josh Beckett last fall, I prefer the experience.

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Kurant

Oh,without a doubt Maddux is a big help to this staff. I would have prefered they threw that money at Pudge more-so then Maddux. They already led the majors, and broke the MLB record for strikeouts, that was with Estes on the staff. ERA's were decent too. And Estes was over 6 at one point. Angel Guzman is a complete stud, we saw him in Cactus League games next year. My only problem with a Maddux signing is this guy is going to sit another year in the minore with a 100+ MPH fastball, and his control IMO the 2 times we saw him pitch is good enough to start on that staff.


My own opinion, there is still 3 holes in the lineup, 2nd - catcher and SS. Grudz hit's .300, yes, but his on-base % is terrible. Gonzo swings at everything, Bako is a free out. I just think it's better money spent on a guy like Pudge, then Maddux. We'll take him, don't get my wrong. I'm just not convinced the 7.5mil a year is that kind of money, well spent.

I'm also not sure Zambrano has any "control" problems. I think his is all emotions, he's high strung. He needs to take a bong hit before he pitches.

kpxrob

i hate maddux. he sucks. he is too old and cant play with the big boys. but i cant say that about the cubs as a whole. wood and prior is a good combo.

jobu

now if they only had a lead off hitter.

here is a good question. who records more K's? their pitchers or their batters?

Blu2e354

I think Maddux puts the cubs over the top as long as patterson can put up similiar numbers we will be in good shape. Next move I would like would be to get rid of Gonzalez

Locke

You have to lie the cubs' younger itching also. Guzman and Cru are going to be ready really soon. I'd like to see Clement get traded and insert one of those guys a few times this year. ( if they pove to be better than Clement) Or they could trade one of them for a good leadoff batter. on another note, how bout patterson? I hear he's coming along nicely after rehab.

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